Fantastic choice!.... it's one of the best games of this generation, maybe one of the best in quite a few generations, imho.
Here are some useful tips to get a newbie going. (maybe it was because I wasn't familiarized with Rockstar games, but it took me some time to get used to the game so they can be very helpful for others too)
- If you find yourself without a mission to play, go to where the initials of some characters are; B -from Bonnie MacFarlanne- for instance, and so on.
- The map is quite large. However, if you know how it's very easy to move around the world of RDR. Press START, select MAP and press the Cross button on the place you want to go. Want to pay a visit to Bonnie? Look for the B around the map and press Cross on the B icon.
A red line guiding you where to go will appear in the radar, bottom left. This is very useful to learn the map and go to different locations not to get lost in such a huge world.
- I didn't do this because I was a beginner, but looking back, I would complete Bonnie MacFarlane missions first until I had the lasso.
You cannot get it before that point -unless you pay for it as DLC which isn't necessary at all-, and it is pretty neccessary for horse breaking. It's also neccessary to capture bounties alive if you choose to do so, or tying up criminals.
If you Hogtie a criminal without killing them, not only they pay you a lot more money, but also your Fame level increases more than if you kill them.
- When lassoing a horse remember to press and hold the left trigger in order to keep the target lassoed.
- In duels don't kill the guy. Just shoot him in the hand where he is holding the pistol. This increases your Fame a lot more than killing him.
- John Marston is one of my favourite characters in a videogame ever, but he doesn't know how to swim at all. So don't get him into the water. This is not Skyrim or Oblivion, and if you go into the water with him not being much of a swimmer, he dies. You can wade at will though, but if Marston gets too deep, he always drowns.
- Keep the golden stallion, which is one of the best horses in the game -a Kentucky Saddler- you get in the Bonnie mission.
- Buy the Bandolier and the Improved Campsite. To Save in this game use the menu -Select button-, go to Kit and press Cross on the Campsite. I didn't know at first but it's very important. You can also save at any time by using a horse deed.
- Buying the bandanna in Thieves' Landing can help you a lot if you do something bad, or if you are involved in a mission where you rob someone or something, which can happen in certain missions unexpectedly even if your character is good.
- There are quite a few DLC freebies. Outlaws to the End Co-Op Mission Pack and a few others.
The Undead Nightmare expansion has amazing scores, too, although it's not free. I have it but I haven't played it yet so I can't tell. Can't wait to play it!
- When you are breaking and taming wild horses, move the left stick right and left alternatively. It works wonders for me. If not, there is another method. Look at John Marston feet, if they are tilted well to the right, hold left until he looks balanced --same when his legs are tilted to the left, although you just have to hold right. You can easily get the hang of it, I think.
- Don't accidentally bump at people or lawmen at top speed while on horseback.
- If you are lost and confused during the Treasure Hunter missions, there are youtube videos that can help you to find the treasure location.
- In randon missions where someone is getting hung and you ride out to help, use Dead Eye to cut the rope hanging them. You need to be quick because they don't last long when hanging.
- I play the game on Expert mode (100% manual aim), but use Dead Eye if you get bumrushed by a pack of wolves, a cougar, ect, because if they knock you down... you are pretty much done.
Not a big fan of Dead Eye myself, but it can be useful on those "impossible" situations, or when rebels attack a train, things like that.
- When you get to Mexico talk to certain person first (head towards the LR in the map), he might teach you a new useful technique (thx Sarah for the tip) :smile:
- Give apples to your horse and treat him well. It's worth it. You can see the result if some malicious stranger knocks or pulls you off your horse and tries to ride off with it. If your horse is loyal to you and someone tries to rob it, just whistle and wait.
Trust me on this one.
- Save often. Be it either in a town, city or in the wilds. Move off the road, make campsite, and save. If not, sometimes it can get frustrating to play for quite a while, hunting or collecting herbs, completing side quests, etc and have some wolves, a cougar or bear taking you out, making you lose all that progress.
There would be more but those are the most important I can remember from the top of my head. The manual of this game stinks, so I think these tips are also more helpful because of that.
p.s. I found the Hungarian-half!! Finally. I am going to name it Snow. Only the amazing American Standardbred to go...
